Saint Anselm Breezes Past Findlay in Opener

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Sophomore Michelle Kudlate (Waltham, Mass.) registered a career-high seven points on two goals and five assists, as Saint Anselm posted a 19-7 victory against Findlay in its season opener Saturday afternoon at Grappone Stadium.

The Hawks begin the 2014 campaign at 1-0, while the Oilers start off 0-1.

Junior Marissa Daly (Marshfield, Mass.) also helped power the offense with five goals and an assist for six points, while classmate Kaitlyn Stazinski (Pembroke, Mass.) notched five points on four goals and a helper.

Stazinski put the Hawks on the board just 45 seconds into the contest, but Findlay tied it just 2:18 later when Sarah Lankton found Taylor Trice for the equalizer. Two straight goals from Kudlate, including one set up by Stazinski, opened a 3-1 lead for the Hawks with 24:24 remaining in the opening half.

Kyra Bradley pulled the Oilers within one 24 seconds later, but Stazinski's second strike set off a string off five straight goals, which included Daly's first two of the game and helped the Hawks grab a commanding 8-2 lead with 13:02 to go.

Bradley scored again to halt the run, but Saint Anselm completely broke it open by closing the half with nine straight goals, including three from Daly and a pair from Stazinski, to bring a 17-3 advantage into the half.

Sophomore Caitlin Villareal (Portsmouth, R.I.) opened the second-half scoring with a free-position tally just 2:44 in, but Findlay potted four of the game's final five goals, including Bradley's third of the day, to make things a little closer.

Sophomore goalkeeper Jane Bunn (St. John's, Fla.) made one save in the first half of action, while junior Allee Ramzi (Cumberland, R.I.) turned away a pair of shots in the second frame. Findlay goalkeeper Katie Poorman made eight saves.

Villareal and classmate Katie McKenna (Danvers, Mass.) each scored a pair of goals, while fellow sophomores Erin Marshall (Woburn, Mass.) and Lauren Perry (Merrimack, N.H.) each tallied a goal and two assists. Junior defender Molly McGaffigan (Groton, Mass.) and classmate Kelly Pickett (Chelmsford, Mass.) both contributed a goal to the attack. Freshman Micayla Evans (Hanover, Mass.) collected her first career point with an assist.

The Hawks outshot the Oilers, 35-12, including 26-5 in the opening half. Saint Anselm held a slight advantage in draw controls (15-13) and went 3 for 5 on their free-position chances, while Findlay was 1 for 2.

The Hawks return to action Saturday, March 8 at 11:00 a.m. when they play host to Grand Valley State University at Grappone.

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University of Findlay opened their season with a 19-7 loss to St. Anselm on Saturday, March 1 in Manchester, N.H.

The Oilers found themselves down 17-3 at the end of the first half, but played much better in the second half as they out-scored St. Anselm by a 4-2 margin.

Kyra Bradley led the team with three goals while Taylor Trice, Erin Stacho, Sarah Lankton and Allison Kelly each scored one goal apiece.

Lankton led the team with seven draw controls while Monica Campbell picked up four groundballs.

Katie Poorman took the loss in goal for Findlay and made eight saves in the game.

The Oilers will return to action tomorrow when they face Merrimack at 12:00 p.m. in North Andover, Mass.